[*] _Stamens and petals 5--7; flowers small, solitary and nearly sessile in the axils of the mostly scattered upper leaves; proper calyx-teeth often shorter than the intermediate processes; plants smooth._ 1. L. Hyssopifòlia, L. Low annual (6--10´ high), pale; leaves oblong-linear, obtuse, longer than the inconspicuous flowers; petals pale-purple; stamens usually 4--6, included.--Marshes, near the coast, Maine to N. J. (Eu.) 2. L. lineàre, L. Stem slender and tall (3--4° high), bushy at top, _with 2 margined angles; leaves linear, chiefly opposite_; petals whitish; flowers with 6 included stamens and a short style, or the stamens exserted and style short; _ovary on a thick short stalk; no fleshy hypogynous ring_.--Brackish marshes, N. J. to Fla. and Tex. 3. L. alàtum, Pursh. Tall and wand-like perennial; _branches with margined angles; leaves oblong-ovate to linear-lanceolate, acute, with a cordate or rounded base_, the upper mostly _alternate; calyx 2--4´´ long_; petals rather large, deep-purple; _stamens of the short-styled flowers exserted; fleshy hypogynous ring prominent_.--Ont. to Minn., south to Ga., Ark., and Col.; also near Boston. [*][*] _Stamens 12 (rarely 8 or 10), twice the number of the petals, 6 longer and 6 shorter; flowers large, crowded and whorled in an interrupted spike._ L. SALICÀRIA, L. (SPIKED LOOSESTRIFE.) More or less downy and tall; leaves lanceolate, heart-shaped at base, sometimes whorled in threes; flowers purple, trimorphous in the relative lengths of the stamens and style.--Wet meadows, N. Scotia to Del. (Nat. from Eu.) 5. DÉCODON, Gmel. SWAMP LOOSESTRIFE. Calyx short, broadly bell-shaped or hemispherical, with 5--7 erect teeth, and as many longer and spreading horn-like processes at the sinuses. Petal 5. Stamens 10 (rarely 8), exserted, of two lengths. Capsule globose, 3--5-celled, loculicidal.--Perennial herbs or slightly shrubby plants, with opposite or whorled leaves, and axillary clusters of trimorphous flowers. (Name from δέκα, _ten_, and ὀδούς, _tooth_.) 1. D. verticillàtus, Ell. Smooth or downy; stems recurved (2--8° long), 4--6-sided; leaves lanceolate, nearly sessile, opposite or whorled, the upper with clustered flowers in their axils on short pedicels; petals 5, wedge-lanceolate, rose-purple (½´ long); stamens 10, half of them shorter. (Nesæa verticillata, _HBK._)--Swampy grounds, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Ont., Minn., and La. Bark of the lower part of the stem often spongy-thickened. 6. CÙPHEA, Jacq.